Sonnet 59: If There Be Nothing New, But That Which Is
If there be nothing new, but that which is
Hath been before, how are our brains beguil’d,
Which labouring for invention bear amiss
The second burthen of a former child.
Oh that record could with a backward look,
Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Show me your image in some antique book,
Since mind at first in character was done,
That I might see what the old world could say
To this composed wonder of your frame;
Whether we are mended, or where better they,
Or whether revolution be the same.
Oh sure I am the wits of former days,
To subjects worse have given admiring praise.
Line 1: If there be nothing new, but that which is
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Nothing new: No new creations or ideas.
- That which is: What already exists.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker begins by posing a philosophical question: if there is nothing new in the world, and everything that exists has existed before, then how are our minds deceived? This suggests a contemplation of the nature of originality and the cyclical nature of existence.
Context:
This sonnet is part of Shakespeare’s sequence addressed to the “Fair Youth.” The speaker explores the theme of originality and the idea that everything in the world may be a repetition of what has come before. The line sets up the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s reflection on whether the beloved’s beauty and essence are truly unique or merely a repetition of past forms.
Line 2: Hath been before, how are our brains beguil’d,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Hath been before: Has existed previously.
- Beguil’d: Deceived or misled.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker continues his philosophical reflection, asking how our minds are deceived (“beguil’d”) if everything that exists has existed before. This suggests that the speaker is questioning the nature of human perception and creativity.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of originality and the cyclical nature of existence. It reflects the speaker’s contemplation of whether human creativity is truly original or merely a repetition of the past.
Line 3: Which labouring for invention bear amiss
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Labouring for invention: Struggling to create something new.
- Bear amiss: Carry or produce incorrectly.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes how our minds, striving to create something new (“labouring for invention”), often produce something that is not truly original (“bear amiss”). This suggests that human creativity may be limited by the repetition of past forms.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of originality and the cyclical nature of existence. It reflects the speaker’s contemplation of whether human creativity is truly original or merely a repetition of the past.
Line 4: The second burthen of a former child.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Second burthen: A repeated burden or creation.
- Former child: A previous creation or idea.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker uses the metaphor of a “second burthen” (a repeated burden) of a “former child” (a previous creation) to describe how human creativity often repeats what has come before. This suggests that originality may be an illusion.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of originality and the cyclical nature of existence. It reflects the speaker’s contemplation of whether human creativity is truly original or merely a repetition of the past.
Line 5: Oh that record could with a backward look,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Record: Historical accounts or writings.
- Backward look: A look into the past.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker expresses a wish that historical records (“record”) could allow him to look backward into the past. This suggests that he wants to compare the beloved’s beauty and essence with those of previous eras.
Context:
This line introduces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 6: Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Five hundred courses of the sun: Five hundred years.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker specifies that he wants to look back even five hundred years (“five hundred courses of the sun”) to compare the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. This suggests a deep curiosity about the nature of beauty across time.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 7: Show me your image in some antique book,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Antique book: An old or ancient book.
- Image: Representation or description.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker wishes to see the beloved’s image (“your image”) in an ancient book, suggesting that he wants to compare the beloved’s beauty with descriptions of beauty from the past. This reflects his desire to understand the nature of beauty across time.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 8: Since mind at first in character was done,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Mind: Human thought or creativity.
- Character: Written form or representation.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker reflects on the origins of human creativity, suggesting that since the mind first began to express itself in written form (“character”), beauty and ideas have been recorded. This suggests a contemplation of the history of human expression.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 9: That I might see what the old world could say
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Old world: The past or ancient times.
- Say: Express or describe.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker expresses his desire to see what the past (“old world”) could say about beauty, suggesting that he wants to compare the beloved’s beauty with historical descriptions. This reflects his curiosity about the nature of beauty across time.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 10: To this composed wonder of your frame;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Composed wonder: The beloved’s beauty, carefully constructed.
- Frame: Physical form or body.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes the beloved’s beauty as a “composed wonder” (a carefully constructed marvel) of his physical form (“frame”). This suggests that the beloved’s beauty is both natural and artful.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the beloved’s beauty and its comparison with past forms. It reflects the speaker’s admiration for the beloved’s beauty and his desire to understand its uniqueness.
Line 11: Whether we are mended, or where better they,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Mended: Improved or made better.
- Better they: They (people of the past) were better.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker wonders whether modern beauty (“we”) has improved (“mended”) or whether people of the past (“they”) were better. This suggests a contemplation of whether beauty has evolved or remained the same over time.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 12: Or whether revolution be the same.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Revolution: Cyclical change or repetition.
- The same: Unchanged or identical.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker considers whether the cyclical nature of time and change (“revolution”) means that beauty remains the same across eras. This suggests a contemplation of the timelessness or repetition of beauty.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s desire to understand whether the beloved’s beauty is truly unique or a repetition of past forms.
Line 13: Oh sure I am the wits of former days,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Sure I am: I am certain.
- Wits: Intelligent or creative people.
- Former days: The past.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that he is certain (“sure I am”) that the creative minds of the past (“wits of former days”) have praised beauty. This suggests that beauty has always been admired, regardless of the era.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of comparing the beloved’s beauty with that of the past. It reflects the speaker’s belief that beauty has always been a subject of admiration.
Line 14: To subjects worse have given admiring praise.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Subjects worse: Less worthy or inferior subjects.
- Admiring praise: Praise filled with admiration.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that the creative minds of the past have given “admiring praise” to subjects that were less worthy (“worse”) than the beloved. This suggests that the beloved’s beauty surpasses even the most admired beauties of the past.
Context:
This line encapsulates the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s beauty is truly unique and surpasses even the most admired beauties of the past. It reflects the speaker’s admiration for the beloved and his conviction that the beloved’s beauty is unparalleled.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 59 explores the theme of originality and the timeless nature of beauty. The speaker begins by questioning whether anything in the world is truly new or if everything is a repetition of what has come before. He expresses a desire to look back into the past to compare the beloved’s beauty with that of previous eras, wondering whether beauty has improved, remained the same, or is cyclical. The sonnet reflects the speaker’s admiration for the beloved’s beauty and his belief that it surpasses even the most admired beauties of the past. The final lines underscore the speaker’s conviction that the beloved’s beauty is truly unique and unparalleled, capturing the tension between the timelessness of beauty and the cyclical nature of existence.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 59
Summary
In Sonnet 59, Shakespeare reflects on the cyclical nature of human thought and artistic expression. He opens with the idea that nothing is truly new—everything that exists has already existed before in some form. This leads him to question whether the act of striving for originality is an illusion. The speaker wonders if historical records from centuries past might contain descriptions of a beauty similar to that of the Fair Youth. If such writings exist, he muses, they might reveal whether people of the past were more perceptive or if human admiration has always been constant, merely cycling through time.
Ultimately, the sonnet ends with a note of confidence: if poets of the past lavished praise on subjects of lesser beauty, then surely the Fair Youth is deserving of even greater admiration.
Critical Analysis
1. The Illusion of Originality
- The opening lines suggest that human creativity is not truly innovative but rather a reworking of past ideas:
- “If there be nothing new, but that which is / Hath been before, how are our brains beguil’d?”
- The phrase “brains beguiled” suggests that people deceive themselves into believing they create something novel, when in reality, they merely repeat what has already been done.
- This reflects Renaissance anxieties about originality in art and literature, as well as a broader philosophical contemplation of time and history.
2. The Desire to Compare the Fair Youth to the Past
- The speaker expresses a wish that historical records could reveal whether such beauty had ever been documented before:
- “Oh that record could with a backward look, / Even of five hundred courses of the sun.”
- The mention of “five hundred courses of the sun” (500 years) emphasizes the speaker’s desire to connect the present with a distant past.
- He wonders if past poets had described someone as wondrous as the Fair Youth or if he is truly unparalleled.
3. The Role of Literature in Preserving Beauty
- The poem acknowledges the importance of written records in capturing and immortalizing beauty.
- This aligns with Shakespeare’s recurring theme that poetry transcends time, preserving the beloved’s image for future generations.
4. A Critique of Past Writers
- The final couplet suggests that past writers may have wasted their praise on unworthy subjects:
- “Oh sure I am the wits of former days, / To subjects worse have given admiring praise.”
- This implies that the Fair Youth surpasses any beauty that has ever been recorded, making past artistic efforts seem misplaced or excessive.
Theme Analysis
1. The Cyclical Nature of Time and Ideas
- The poem questions whether human thoughts and creations are ever truly new.
- This reflects Renaissance concerns about innovation versus tradition, as well as a broader philosophical idea that history repeats itself.
2. The Role of Literature in Preserving Beauty
- Shakespeare suggests that books and records serve as a bridge between past and present.
- The speaker hopes to find written proof that someone like the Fair Youth existed before, highlighting literature’s role in documenting human admiration.
3. The Search for Perfection Across Time
- The speaker’s inquiry into past descriptions of beauty suggests a desire to place the Fair Youth within a historical continuum.
- He ultimately concludes that no one in history could have been as perfect as the youth.
4. The Power of Admiration and Flattery
- The final lines elevate the Fair Youth by suggesting that past poets wasted their praise on lesser subjects.
- This reinforces the sonnet’s purpose as an expression of admiration and devotion.
Literary Devices
1. Paradox: The Illusion of Originality
- “If there be nothing new, but that which is / Hath been before, how are our brains beguil’d?”
- The paradox suggests that humans strive for innovation while unknowingly repeating what has already been done.
2. Metaphor: The Burden of Creativity
- “The second burthen of a former child.”
- Creativity is compared to childbirth, implying that new ideas are merely rebirths of old ones.
3. Personification: The Record of the Past
- “Oh that record could with a backward look.”
- The idea that historical records could “look” backward suggests an active role for literature in preserving history.
4. Hyperbole: The Fair Youth’s Unmatched Beauty
- “To subjects worse have given admiring praise.”
- The speaker exaggerates by implying that all past poets wasted their praise on less worthy subjects.
Conclusion
Sonnet 59 is a meditation on time, originality, and artistic admiration. Shakespeare questions whether anything in the world is truly new, suggesting that all human endeavors—including poetry—are mere repetitions of the past. Despite this, he expresses a desire to compare the Fair Youth’s beauty to historical records, ultimately concluding that no past subject was as deserving of praise. The sonnet serves as both a philosophical reflection and a celebration of the youth’s unparalleled perfection.
